‘Thaw’ supporters’ deceptive spin

There is a cloud of deception hovering over the referendum on lifting the tax freeze! Like a thief in the night Mayor Tomlinson and city council hurriedly passed Resolution #43-16 on February 23 without any notification to the public on the city’s agenda nor legal organ. My husband Paul Olson confronted the mayor at the last city council meeting about blindsiding the public and their explanation was that it was legal, but I consider it very unethical!

I thought the public was entitled to three public hearings since the terms and conditions changed. Resolution #43-16 was the second authorization to be sent to our local legislative delegation pertaining to the Referendum, because the first was deemed unconstitutional! Unbeknownst to the public until Paul informed us that there had been three written versions of the Tax Referendum consisting initially of 175 words, then 76 words later reduced to now 36 words on the Ballot.

City attorney Clifton Fay, along with Chuck Palmer, who practices government and regulatory law with the Atlanta firm of Troutman and Sanders, collaborated in writing the second version. That new ballot read: “Shall the Act be approved so as to repeal the current local constitutional amendment which provides for assessment of homestead property,” etc. Also local legislators McKoon, Harbison, Hugley, Smyre, and Smith received nearly $5,000 in campaign contributions collectively from Troutman and Sanders, influencing them to place this referendum expeditiously on the ballot.

The third version was just revealed by Tim Chitwood with the Ledger-Enquirer on September 29. This new version intentionally omits the verbiage ”repeal of our local constitutional amendment” pertaining to our homestead exemption! Mayor Tomlinson, city council in exception Councilor Huff, and the majority of our local legislators lack honesty and transparency. Vote No November 8!

Stunted growth

As a local real estate investor, business owner and current member of the Muscogee County School Board, I fully realize the negative impact the freeze is having on our community.

The property tax freeze is unfair taxation and the cost of it is passed on to every investment property owner, business owner and consumer. Over the last 35 years, the freeze has caused Columbus to have one of the highest sales tax, business tax and millage rate in the state in order to make up for the lack of revenue in frozen property taxes. A study done by CSU points out that new homeowners are paying 16% more than they would if we had a fair market value tax system in place. With only 1 out of 4 homeowners benefitting from the freeze, 75% of our community is carrying this unfair tax burden. A vote to Thaw the Freeze is a vote for fair taxes.

A Fort Benning impact study by the Matrix Group describes our tax system as “disastrous.” Nearly all comparable cities in Georgia which don’t have a tax freeze are outgrowing Columbus. We must stop deterring people and businesses from relocating to our community because of the unfair tax burden placed on their shoulders. A vote to Thaw the Freeze is a vote for growth.

Board matters

Your article "Is the Muscogee School Board really a hostile environment?" (October 2) cries for comment.

First, $1,500,000 no-bid milk contract is either a fact or it isn't, and Mr. Lewis should have been able to explain. Surely Mr. Lewis is not stealthy enough to swing such a significant contract without the approval of other board members. It seems that Mr. Myers has a valid point: wWouldn't at least one other company want to bid on that lucrative contract?

Second, who on the school board proposed a $25,000 fee for developing a district mission statement? It seems reasonable that all we need are one good lawyer, one good school board historian, and one good Language Arts teacher. Cost? I don't know offhand, but the three of us could surely underbid twenty-five grand!

Third, if Mr. Meyers thinks using filthy language is going to gain anything except a hostile retort, he is ignorant of common sense and good manners. Mr. Mark Rice is a first-class individual. I was privileged to teach his son Language Arts for two years. He always was well informed, polite, and considerate of my views. His articles are objective, factual, and relevant. Why Mr. Meyers would say such unnecessarily crude and insulting things is beyond the pale. Even if he raises valid points, no one who has been so insultingly vilified is going to rush to support him.

Hostile? Lack of negotiating skills? Sad to say, yes.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 6:22 PM with the headline "‘Thaw’ supporters’ deceptive spin."